--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we started Aftermath, we had…" description: "\"When we started Aftermath, we had something like 20 artists, and it was driving me crazy. I couldn't sit down and focus on any of it. Plus, it was doub..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7b/dr-dre-3292_aftermath_when-we-started-aftermath-we-had-somethi_2433378.jpg" --- # When we started Aftermath, we had something like 20… ![“When we started Aftermath, we had something like 20 artists, and it was driving me crazy. I couldn't sit down and focus on any of it. Plus, it was doubly hard because you ended up crushing these people's dreams when you had to let them go.” quote by Dr. Dre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7b/dr-dre-3292_aftermath_when-we-started-aftermath-we-had-somethi_2433378.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7b/dr-dre-3292_aftermath_when-we-started-aftermath-we-had-somethi_2433378.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7b/dr-dre-3292_aftermath_when-we-started-aftermath-we-had-somethi_2433378.jpg) > “When we started Aftermath, we had something like 20 artists, and it was driving me crazy. I couldn't sit down and focus on any of it. Plus, it was doubly hard because you ended up crushing these people's dreams when you had to let them go.” [Dr. Dre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-dre/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Managing many artists caused chaos and forced difficult decisions to end some careers. **In simple terms:** Too many projects caused stress and painful cuts. Key Takeaway Limit projects to maintain focus. Themes management stress creative teams Mood reflective determined Type advice motivational When to use this quote - record label management - team building - project prioritization - artist development Key Concepts leadership decision making creative burnout Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance ambition with capacity? - What criteria guide letting go of collaborators? A Different Perspective Cutting ties can damage reputations and morale. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aftermath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aftermath/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Driving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driving/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) ## Related quotes > [So many things that seemed crucial and excruciatingly hard ended and then didn't matter anymore, forever after](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mona-simpson/so-many-things-that-seemed-crucial-and-excruciatingly-hard-ended-and/) [Mona Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mona-simpson/) > [From the streets of Cairo and the Arab Spring, to Occupy Wall Street, from the busy political calendar to the aftermath of the tsunami…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-rather/from-the-streets-of-cairo-and-the-arab-spring-to-occupy-wall-street/) [Dan Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-rather/) > [But I don't know what to him about the aftermath of killing a person. About how they never leave you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/but-i-don-t-know-what-to-him-about-the-aftermath-of-killing-a-person/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [I wish I had been more mature. I wish I had handled the immediate aftermath of the accident involving my family better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/i-wish-i-had-been-more-mature-i-wish-i-had-handled-the-immediate/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [In the aftermath of any war or genocide, healing and reconciliation are ultimate aspirations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/in-the-aftermath-of-any-war-or-genocide-healing-and-reconciliation/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > [In the aftermath of 9/11 and in the build-up to the invasion of Iraq, few questioned the idea that the United States was likely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-jacques/in-the-aftermath-of-9-11-and-in-the-build-up-to-the-invasion-of-iraq/) [Martin Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-jacques/) > [In a brilliant fusion of fact and fiction, Jayne Anne Phillips has written the novel of the year. It's the story of a serial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/in-a-brilliant-fusion-of-fact-and-fiction-jayne-anne-phillips-has/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [They were anticipating a different kind of immediate aftermath of the fall of Baghdad, it turned out to be not exactly as they had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/they-were-anticipating-a-different-kind-of-immediate-aftermath-of-the/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [In the aftermath of 9/11, people had not a good time, but a deep, profound, rousing time, woke up from their ennui and isolation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/in-the-aftermath-of-9-11-people-had-not-a-good-time-but-a-deep/) [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) > ['The Accursed' is very much a novel about social injustice as the consequence of the terrible, tragic division of classes - the exploitation not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/the-accursed-is-very-much-a-novel-about-social-injustice-as-the/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [It's common knowledge that every act has an aftermath factor. It can be positive or negative. Whatever the result its always important that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-matobo/it-s-common-knowledge-that-every-act-has-an-aftermath-factor-it-can/) [Frank Matobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-matobo/) > ['Life's That Way' was an extraordinarily difficult book to write, because it wasn't written as a book. It was written as a journal of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-beaver/life-s-that-way-was-an-extraordinarily-difficult-book-to-write/) [Jim Beaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-beaver/) > [Most people may not think about it, but the aftermath of war is very costly. Costly not just in lives, but the treatment. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-inouye/most-people-may-not-think-about-it-but-the-aftermath-of-war-is-very/) [Daniel Inouye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-inouye/) > [“She might have been there for you in the aftermath, but I was there when everything came crashing down.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-duke/she-might-have-been-there-for-you-in-the-aftermath-but-i-was-there/) [Megan Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-duke/) > [Affirmative action was designed to recognize the uniquely difficult journey of African-Americans. This policy was justifiable and understandable, even to those who came from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-webb/affirmative-action-was-designed-to-recognize-the-uniquely-difficult/) [Jim Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-webb/) ## More by Dr. Dre > [My mother got pregnant with me at the age of fifteen. This was '64, and unheard of at that time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-dre/my-mother-got-pregnant-with-me-at-the-age-of-fifteen-this-was-64-and/) [Dr. Dre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-dre/) > [A lot of times when I'm at home kickin' it, I don't even listen to hip hop. I listen to all types of music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-dre/a-lot-of-times-when-i-m-at-home-kickin-it-i-don-t-even-listen-to-hip/) [Dr. Dre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-dre/) > [Even when I was close to defeat I rose to my feet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-dre/even-when-i-was-close-to-defeat-i-rose-to-my-feet/) [Dr. Dre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-dre/) > [You're a victim from my drive-by of thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-dre/you-re-a-victim-from-my-drive-by-of-thoughts/) [Dr. Dre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-dre/) > [No matter where you are or what you're doing, it's always great if you don't have to get up and physically change the song…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-dre/no-matter-where-you-are-or-what-you-re-doing-it-s-always-great-if-you/) [Dr. Dre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-dre/) > [I got Ice Cube his start. I also launched Eazy-E.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-dre/i-got-ice-cube-his-start-i-also-launched-eazy-e/) [Dr. Dre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-dre/) > [I can't see myself ever spending hundreds of thousands on anything that doesn't come with a toilet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-dre/i-can-t-see-myself-ever-spending-hundreds-of-thousands-on-anything/) [Dr. Dre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-dre/) > [They wanna hang us, see us dead, or enslave us, keep us trapped in the same place we raised in. Then they wonder why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-dre/they-wanna-hang-us-see-us-dead-or-enslave-us-keep-us-trapped-in-the/) [Dr. Dre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-dre/) > [I can take a three-year-old and make a hit record with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-dre/i-can-take-a-three-year-old-and-make-a-hit-record-with-him/) [Dr. Dre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-dre/) > [I work hard making music - that's how I earn a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-dre/i-work-hard-making-music-that-s-how-i-earn-a-living/) [Dr. Dre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-dre/) > [I bring terror like Stephen King, A black Casanova, runnin niggaz over like Christine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-dre/i-bring-terror-like-stephen-king-a-black-casanova-runnin-niggaz-over/) [Dr. Dre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-dre/) > [I'm never gonna stop music, it's like air to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-dre/i-m-never-gonna-stop-music-it-s-like-air-to-me/) [Dr. Dre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-dre/) > [I ain't a thug - how much Tupac in you you got?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-dre/i-ain-t-a-thug-how-much-tupac-in-you-you-got/) [Dr. Dre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-dre/) > [Eminem is just incredible. That's the word that comes to mind: 'incredible.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-dre/eminem-is-just-incredible-that-s-the-word-that-comes-to-mind/) [Dr. Dre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-dre/) > [People are always coming up to me, thinking I've got some magic wand that can make them a star and I want to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-dre/people-are-always-coming-up-to-me-thinking-i-ve-got-some-magic-wand/) [Dr. Dre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-dre/) [Explore all 134 Dr. Dre quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-dre/) ## More Aftermath quotes > [Affirmative action was designed to recognize the uniquely difficult journey of African-Americans. This policy was justifiable and understandable, even to those who came from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-webb/affirmative-action-was-designed-to-recognize-the-uniquely-difficult/) [Jim Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-webb/) > [“She might have been there for you in the aftermath, but I was there when everything came crashing down.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-duke/she-might-have-been-there-for-you-in-the-aftermath-but-i-was-there/) [Megan Duke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-duke/) > [Most people may not think about it, but the aftermath of war is very costly. Costly not just in lives, but the treatment. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-inouye/most-people-may-not-think-about-it-but-the-aftermath-of-war-is-very/) [Daniel Inouye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-inouye/) > ['Life's That Way' was an extraordinarily difficult book to write, because it wasn't written as a book. It was written as a journal of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-beaver/life-s-that-way-was-an-extraordinarily-difficult-book-to-write/) [Jim Beaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-beaver/) > [It's common knowledge that every act has an aftermath factor. It can be positive or negative. Whatever the result its always important that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-matobo/it-s-common-knowledge-that-every-act-has-an-aftermath-factor-it-can/) [Frank Matobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-matobo/) > ['The Accursed' is very much a novel about social injustice as the consequence of the terrible, tragic division of classes - the exploitation not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-carol-oates/the-accursed-is-very-much-a-novel-about-social-injustice-as-the/) [Joyce Carol Oates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-carol-oates/) > [In the aftermath of 9/11, people had not a good time, but a deep, profound, rousing time, woke up from their ennui and isolation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-solnit/in-the-aftermath-of-9-11-people-had-not-a-good-time-but-a-deep/) [Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-solnit/) > [They were anticipating a different kind of immediate aftermath of the fall of Baghdad, it turned out to be not exactly as they had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/they-were-anticipating-a-different-kind-of-immediate-aftermath-of-the/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [In a brilliant fusion of fact and fiction, Jayne Anne Phillips has written the novel of the year. It's the story of a serial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/in-a-brilliant-fusion-of-fact-and-fiction-jayne-anne-phillips-has/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [In the aftermath of 9/11 and in the build-up to the invasion of Iraq, few questioned the idea that the United States was likely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-jacques/in-the-aftermath-of-9-11-and-in-the-build-up-to-the-invasion-of-iraq/) [Martin Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-jacques/) > [In the aftermath of any war or genocide, healing and reconciliation are ultimate aspirations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/in-the-aftermath-of-any-war-or-genocide-healing-and-reconciliation/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > [I wish I had been more mature. I wish I had handled the immediate aftermath of the accident involving my family better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/i-wish-i-had-been-more-mature-i-wish-i-had-handled-the-immediate/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [But I don't know what to him about the aftermath of killing a person. About how they never leave you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/but-i-don-t-know-what-to-him-about-the-aftermath-of-killing-a-person/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [We need to have a modicum of faith in people's common sense, creativity and will to survive and prosper even in the face of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-higgs/we-need-to-have-a-modicum-of-faith-in-people-s-common-sense/) [Robert Higgs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-higgs/) > [ I can't think of any time we had a discussion \[with Dre\] about the aftermath of what happened the night before. We just had… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-le/i-can-t-think-of-any-time-we-had-a-discussion-with-dre-about-the/) [Michel'le](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-le/) [Browse all 218 Aftermath quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aftermath/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When we started Aftermath, we had something like 20 artists, and it was driving me crazy. I couldn't sit down and focus on any of it. 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